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May is
Stroke Awareness month.  

A stroke occurs when blood is unable to flow efficiently to the brain.  This effects certain body parts, depending on what part of the brain has limited blood flow. 

What are the warning signs?

  • Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body

  • Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

  • Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

  • Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

  • Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

General risk factors:

  • Age — Risk increases after 55 years of age.

  • Heredity (family history) and race — Your stroke risk is greater if you are African-American or if a parent, grandparent, sister or brother has had a stroke

  • Sex (gender) — Stroke is more common in men than in women. 

  • Prior stroke, TIA or heart attack — The risk of stroke for someone who has already had one is many times that of a person who has not.  Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are "warning strokes" that produce stroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage

  • High blood pressure — Following a low sodium diet can help lower blood pressure.

  • Cigarette smoking — Quitting smoking can reduce your risk of stroke.

  • Diabetes mellitus —Diabetes raises your risk for stroke and other diseases.

  • Carotid, peripheral or other artery disease — Blocked arteries or narrowed arteries limit blood flow to the brain.  

  • Atrial fibrillation — This heart rhythm disorder raises the risk for stroke. 

  • Other heart disease — People with coronary heart disease or heart failure have a higher risk of stroke than those with hearts that work normally.  Dilated cardiomyopathy (an enlarged heart), heart valve disease and some types of congenital heart defects also raise the risk of stroke.

  • Sickle cell disease (also called sickle cell anemia) — This is a genetic disorder that mainly affects African-American and Hispanic children.  "Sickled" red blood cells are less able to carry oxygen to the body's tissues and organs.  These cells also tend to stick to blood vessel walls, which can block arteries to the brain and cause a stroke.

  • High blood cholesterol — People with high blood cholesterol have an increased risk for stroke.  Also, it appears that low HDL (“good”) cholesterol  is a risk factor for stroke in men, but more data are needed to verify its effect in women.

  • Poor diet — Diets high in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol can raise blood cholesterol levels. Diets high in sodium (salt) can contribute to increased blood pressure. 

  • Physical inactivity and obesity — Being inactive, obese or both can increase your risk of high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.  

Decrease your risk of stroke by being active, making healthy food choices and knowing your risk factors.

For more information:
1-888-4-STROKE (478-7653)
American Stoke Association (www.strokeassociation.org)  – most of the information for this page was taken from this site.

 

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